PSR’s Safe Energy Presents at Netroots Nation

Michele Boyd represented PSR at Netroots Nation in Minneapolis on Friday,
June 17. She presented along with others
in a panel discussion called Dirty
Energy: The Fight against Coal, Oil, Natural Gas and Nuclear Power, where
she talked about the dismal economics of new nuclear reactors, why nuclear is
not a solution to climate change, and the repercussions of the ongoing
Fukushima nuclear crisis on nuclear power in the United States.

The panel discussion was followed by Q&A where bloggers and activists
were eager to get the panelists perspectives on dirty energy issues. When asked what bloggers and activists can do
to oppose nuclear power, Michele urged them to tell President Obama and their
elected officials that nuclear is not “clean” and US taxpayers should not
subsidize a new generation of reactors. She urged progressive bloggers to blog
on nuclear power issues and to raise these topics in the 2012 elections.

When asked if nuclear reactors are part of a solution to climate change,
Michele elaborated on the fundamental flaws of nuclear reactors, saying that
“no country has solved the cost, radioactive waste, safety, security and
proliferation problems of nuclear power.”
She concluded that if the US were to pursue new reactors as a climate
solution, we would be paying too much, creating even more nuclear waste with
nowhere to go, increasing our national security and public health threats and
undermining US non-proliferation goals.

In dealing with the effects of the Fukushima disaster on US reactors, Michele
said that it has had a powerful effect on US public opinion and has increased media
interest in nuclear issues, but the Administration and most members of Congress
and are “in a bubble – acting as if Fukushima never happened.” Since the Fukushima crisis began on March 11,
President Obama and members of Congress have continued to support new reactors
in the US, with President Obama reiterating his request for an additional $36
billion in nuclear loan guarantees in his FY2012 budget. Meanwhile, the economics of new reactors
have become even more complicated and risky given the myriad of safety issues
raised by the Fukushima disaster.

Dr. Yuri Hiranuma provides a concise review of the TUE findings and the surprising high numbers of thyroid cancers in the initial baseline screening. The follow up study has already found 15 news cases in children who were cancer free two years prior. Read more »

In the Spotlight

March 23, 2018

8th Annual Soul of Medicine Dinner Join Chicago PSR at 6 pm on March 23 at MingHin restaurant in Chicago for the 8th annual Soul of Medicine dinner. Students attend free.